Combined ammunition and water carrier and litter.



No. 704,426. P atentd July 8,1902;

v H. F. ALLEN. A COMBINED AMMUNITION AND WATER CARRIER AND LITTER.

(Application filed Nov. 91; 1901.. Renewed June 13, 1902.)

3 Sheets-$haat I.

(No Model.)

I W'fyesses W 7 63 No. 704,426. Patented July 3,1902. H. r. L. ALLEN.

GOIMBINED AMMUNITION AND WATER CARRIER AND LITTER.

{Application filed Nov. 91, 1901. Benawed .Tuno 18, 1902.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m: NORRIS PETERS co. PNOYO-LITHON wasumamu, D c.

No. 704,426. Patented July 8,' I902.

H.'F. L. ALLEN. BUHBINED AMMUNITION AND WATER CARRIER AND LITTER.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1901. Ronawed June 13, 1902.) (lio ModeI.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. h y W A Nrrn- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT F. L. ALLEN, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT CO., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

COMBINED AMMUNITION AND WATER CARRIER AND LITTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,426, dated July 8, 1902,

Application filed November 21, 1901. Renewed June 13, 1902. Serial No. 111,578. No model-) To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT F. L. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Ammunition and Water Carriers and Litters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in to portable ammunition and water carriers and litters; and the object is primarily to provide a light portable vehicle capable of being moved from place to place either by hand or by horse power for conveying ammunition and water from the source of supply to the firing-line with comparative ease and immunity from danger to the attendants or operators; and a further object is to provide 2. vehicle which may be used as a litter for conducting the dead and wounded from the bat tle-field.

Still further objects are the provision of a collapsible vehicle for these purposes capable of being folded into small space, which is 2 5 a particularly desirable quality for transportation purposes, as it is essential to the use of these articles that they be of such construction and arrangement that they can be compactly folded and carried in the transportation-wagons in adequate numbers.

Another object is to provide a vehicle with accessories for its use as a temporarily-stationary appliance for use in supporting water or ammunition without the necessity of the presence of an attendant after having been conducted to a convenient place or to be utilized as an operating-table when the exigency for such use may arise.

With the foregoing and other objects not necessary to mentionin View my invention consists in a collapsible vehicle capable of being narrowed or folded into compact space and when set up adapted to be utilized for carrying a supply of ammunition or water, or

both, or as an ambulance, as the case may be, and it comprises a folding frame supported on a centrally-located wheel, with braces for holding the frame in a rigid adjustment when in use, in connection with other accessoriessuch as water tanks, ammunition boxes,

stretchers, and the like-all of which are readily removable from the vehicle and the Water-tank preferably being of such construction that it can be supported independently of the vehicle upon the ground or elsewhere and over a fire, if desired, to boil the water contained therein.

My invention still further consists in certain novel features of construction and combination'of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved vehicle set up in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the vehicle collapsed. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the center. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the preferred form of water-tank, showing it supported on its folding legs. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same, showing the legs folded up out of the way, dotted lines indicating their position when supporting the tank. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a slightly-modified construction in which two vehicles are fastened together side by side and a pair of shafts are provided for hitching it to a horse or other draft-animal, and Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of the modified construction.

The machine mayfor the most part be made of strong steel bicycle-tubing, although, of course, I neither make claim to the material used nor do I wish to be in anywise limited in this respect. This frame comprises in the main apair of longitudinal tubes or bars A A, which constitute sides of the vehicle and which for convenience terminate at each end in handles 1 land 2 2, adapted to be engaged by the operator in moving the vehicle. The sides are held apart by means of braces 3 3, made in sections, hinged together at their inner ends and to the sides at their outer ends in such a manner that they fold upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, when the vehicle is collapsed.

The framework as above constructedis sup- 5 ported on a centrally-located wheel B. The wheel turns on a bearing 4, made of steel or suitable material. Arms 5 5 are screwed or otherwise secured on the opposite ends of the bearing close to the ends of the wheel-hub, I00

thereby confining the wheel between them. These arms terminate in pintles 6 6, extending forward and rearward of the wheel-hub and bearing and on them braces 7 7 are supported and hinged, these braces being rigidly secured at their upper ends to the side tubesor bars A A, and hinged to them are the sectional braces 8 8, which latter are hinged/together at their inner ends, whereby when extended the main braces 7 7 are held apart at their upper ends, as indicated in Fig. 3, thus cooperating with the sectional braces 3 3, previously mentioned, in rigidly holding the sides A A and the rigid braces 7 7 apart and in the triangular arrangement shown in Fig. 3 with respect to the wheel B.

In addition to the parts described, which constitute the main features of my invention, folding legs 0 Care provided, they being hinged at 9 9 to the sides, made in sections hinged together M10 10, as shown, and connected together at their lower ends by rods or tubes 11 11, hinged to the legs at 12 In this way it will be seen that the legs also may be folded with. joints 1O 1O inward, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to occupy a minimum of space when the entire vehicle is collapsed. By means of the legs support is afforded for the vehicle when it is to be left without an attendant or to be used for operating purposes or the like, the wheel in that instance cooperating with the legs in making a substantial support. Sectional braces 13 13 extend from the legs to the side tubes or bars, their function being to give rigidity to the entire structure when set up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The braces 13 13 fold after the manner of the other sectional braces 3 3 and 8 8 described when the entire vehicle is collapsed.

Folding straps 14 14 extend across from side to side of the frame and with the braces 8 8 afiord a means of support for the watertanks D, which are placed thereon. These water-tanks are made of sheet metal in any approved form, but for convenience preferably in about the space shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to fit into the space formed between braces 3, 7, and 8, as clearlyindicated in Fig. 3. These tanks when in position rest upon braces 8 8 and straps 14 14, or in lieu thereof. a slatted or lazy-tong bottom might be provided for this purpose. When in position, their rear ends come nearly together, whereas their outer ends extend approximately to the end of the frame. These tanks are closed, being provided with an opening 15 at the top for filling, and said opening is provided with a screw plug or stopper 16 of any kind. Each tank is furnished with spigot 17 at one end by which the water is drawn off. Handles 18 18 are also attached at each end by which the tanks may be easily lifted or carried. Legs 19 19 are pivoted at 20 to the opposite ends of each tank upon which to support the latter when removed from the 1 vehicle. These legs are swung down into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 when in use and up into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 when not in use.

Cleats 21. 21 extend inside of the side tubes or rods, to which they are secured and upon them the ammunition-boxes E E rest. The folding braces 3 3 at opposite ends of the frame prevent their sliding out of place. Ample room is allowed for the ammunitionboxes to rest flatwise or edgewise, accordingly as it is desired to carry a correspondingly small or large number of rounds.

It is calculated that as high as twenty gallons of water and four thousand rounds of ammunition can be carried to the firing-line on a single trip by four men, and in some instances two, by means of this carrier, and over fairly good ground it is estimated that four men can convey six thousand rounds of ammunitionby simply setting the ammu nition-boxes upon edge, as above mentioned, instead of placing them fiat.

Projecting inwardly from the cleats 21 2 are hooks 22 22, to which the stretcher (not shown) is detaohably secured.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple means is presented for carrying ammunition and water to the firing-line and at the same time one which can be utilized for various additional purposes. Also when not in use it is easily transported because of the facility with which it can be folded into a small compass.

As means of protection to the operators the shields F F are mounted or may be mounted at the front and rear ends of the vehicle. They are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 two of these vehicles are secured together by clips or other means 25 and the shafts 26 are secured to the axle-bearing and framework in any approved manner for hitching in a draft-animal to propel the vehicle.

It iscvident that other slight changes might be resorted to in form and arrangement of the several parts described Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vehicle comprising a frame collapsible widthwise, a supporting-wheel, and an axlebearing with which the sides of the frame have hinged connection.

2. A vehicle comprising a frame collapsible widthwise, a supporting-wheel, and an axlebearingwith the ends of which the sides of the frame have hinged connection.

3. A vehicle comprising a collapsible frame work, a supporting-wheel, and an axle-bearing with which said framework has hinged connection, and water-tank adapted to be IIO supported by said framework and when in place preventing the collapse of the framework.

l. Avehicle Comprising a collapsible framework, a supporting-wheel, and an axle-bearing with which said framework has hinged connection, water-tank adapted to be supported by said framework and when in place preventing the collapse of the framework, and folding legs having hinged connection with said framework.

5. The combination with a collapsible framework composed of sides and folding braces, of removable water-tank which will prevent the collapse of the frame when in position.

6. The combination with a framework, composed of sides and folding braces hinged to said sides, of removable water-tank supported by said framework, said tank having legs hinged thereto upon which to support the tank when removed from the framework.-

7. The combination with a framework con sisting of sides and folding braces, said sides having cleats or ledges connected with their inner surfaces, and removable ammunitionboxes supported thereon, said boxes when in position preventing the collapse of the frame.

8. The combination with a framework consisting of sides and folding braces, said sides having cleats or ledges connected with their inner surfaces, and removable ammunitionboxes supported thereon, said boxes when in position preventing the collapse of the frame, and hooks projecting inwardly from the framework to receive a stretcher thereon.

9. The combination with a framework consisting of sides and folding braces, said sides having cleats or ledges connected with their inner surfaces, and removable ammunitionboxes supported thereon, said boxes when in position preventing the collapse of the frame, hooks projecting inwardly from the framework to receive a stretcher thereon, and water-tanks removablysupported on the framewor 10. The combination of a framework consisting of sides and folding braces hinged thereto, folding straps extending across from side to side, and water-tanks removably supported on said straps.

11. The combination with a framework, consisting of sides and folding braces, of an axle-bearing, a wheel adapted to turn thereon, arms connected with the ends of the axlebearing, and rigid braces having hinged connection with said arms and secured to the sides.

12. The combination with a framework, consisting of sides and folding braces, of an axle-bearing, a wheel adapted to turn thereon, arms connected with the ends of the axlebearing, and rigid braces having hinged connection with said arms and secured to the sides, and folding braces extending across from one rigid brace to the other opposite.

13. The combination with a framework, consisting of sides and folding braces, of an axle-bearing, a wheel adapted to turn thereon, arms connected with the ends of the axlebearing, and rigid braces having hinged connection with said arms and secured to the sides, folding braces extending across from one rigid brace to the other opposite, and folding legs connected with the framework.

14. The combination with a pair of vehicles collapsible widthwise and supported each on a central wheel, of coupling means for secur ing them together and means by which they are attached to a draft-animal.

15. The combination with a pair of vehicles collapsible widthwise and supported each on a central wheel, of coupling means for securing them together and means by which they are attached to a draftanimal, said means connected with the axles of each wheel.

16. The combination with a pair of vehicles collapsible widthwise and supported each on a central wheel, of coupling means for securing them together and means by which they are attached to a draft-animal, said means connected with the axles of each wheel, and having a pair of forks at the rear end which span the wheels and are connected to the axles thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT F. L. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. RIDENOUR, UPTON I-I. RIDENOUR, J r. 

